Digital (toslink & coaxial), stereo, and 5.1 outs, Which to use from DVD and when?

[dellhome123]

Ok.. i have a pioneer DVD 656A dvd player, RV-X1400 receiver, Pioneer SD-533 widescreen TV.

I'm trying to figure out how to hook up the Audio.

Which is used when and why?

Should I only use the Digital? and if so, which is better toslink or coaxial?

Should I or do I need to hook up the 5.1?

I'm assuming the stereo is pretty useless unless you just want to hook up the DVD to the TV for non-surround viewing.

I've read a few other posts and tried searching for more info but i can't find anything real helpful.

Please let me know.

thanks.

[Rockwell]

Ok.. i have a pioneer DVD 656A dvd player, RV-X1400 receiver, Pioneer SD-533 widescreen TV.

I'm trying to figure out how to hook up the Audio.

Which is used when and why?

Should I only use the Digital? and if so, which is better toslink or coaxial?

Should I or do I need to hook up the 5.1?

I'm assuming the stereo is pretty useless unless you just want to hook up the DVD to the TV for non-surround viewing.

I've read a few other posts and tried searching for more info but i can't find anything real helpful.

Please let me know.

thanks.

You can use either the toslink or coax. They both provide the same digital signal, so use whichever is most convenient/cheaper for you. The quality will be the same.

The digital signal provided through either type of digital cable is the only audio connection you will need. Any type of surround/stereo signal will be transmitted through the digital connection.

[dellhome123]

I've read some comments that suggest that to listen to DVD-Audio that you will need to use the 5.1 connections instead of the digital drops.

Is this true?

[Rockwell]

I've read some comments that suggest that to listen to DVD-Audio that you will need to use the 5.1 connections instead of the digital drops.

Is this true?

I don't know, but my guess would be no. Perhaps someone else with more DVD-A knowledge will reply.

[Monstrous Mike]

I'll give you some background info first. We are now in the world of digital audio with many formats like CD-A, mp3, DVD-A, DTS, DD, etc. The one thing they all have in common is that they need a decoder (and subsequent D/A converstion) before they can be played.

Most receivers today have a decoder for PCM (CD audio), DD and DTS with varying combos of 5.1, 6.1, etc. This means that a normal DVD connection to the receiver would be digital since the receiver can handle all of these digital signals.

However, there are no decoders yet for DVD-A that can be found in a receiver. (As a side note, I believe that some of this problem lies in the fact that the recording industry does not want to make DVD-A digital signals available for copying until it has a sufficient way of encrypting or otherwise protecting them.) Therefore, the DVD-A decoder is located in your DVD player and you must use the 5.1 analog connection to your receiver when listening to DVD-A discs.

[dellhome123]

However, there are no decoders yet for DVD-A that can be found in a receiver. (As a side note, I believe that some of this problem lies in the fact that the recording industry does not want to make DVD-A digital signals available for copying until it has a sufficient way of encrypting or otherwise protecting them.) Therefore, the DVD-A decoder is located in your DVD player and you must use the 5.1 analog connection to your receiver when listening to DVD-A discs.

Thanks for all the great information.. i think i've decided to hook it up 3 ways then.. stereo outs to the tv for just tv playback, digital coax for recvr playback and 5.1 for dvd-audio.

new questions:

1. does this same reasoning apply to SACD? (i.e. must use 5.1?)
2. should i hook my dvd straight to tv or thru the yammy?

[BluesDaddy]

I've read some comments that suggest that to listen to DVD-Audio that you will need to use the 5.1 connections instead of the digital drops.

Is this true?

Yes. Due to copy protection concerns, the uncompressed audio signal of DVD-Audio discs is only transmitted through the analog outputs. Many DVD-A discs also include a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 signal which may still be played back through the digital outs.

[dellhome123]

Yes. Due to copy protection concerns, the uncompressed audio signal of DVD-Audio discs is only transmitted through the analog outputs. Many DVD-A discs also include a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 signal which may still be played back through the digital outs.

ahh.. i had heard/read that somewhere else and this confirms it i guess for me at least.. so it seems the manufacturers are sort screwing the buyers for now..